Texas Redbud - Cercis canadensis 'Texensis'Family:Fabaceae (Leguminosae)A popular ornamental, redbud is unfortunate in a short lifespan of about 15-20 years.

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Redbud is a popular small to medium sized ornamental, growing to about 15 feet tall and as many wide - but it can be twice that size given optimum growing conditions. A fast-grower when young, it starts with an upright vase-shape, becoming spreading and rounded (and often leaning) with age. It can be single or multi-trunked and low-branching. Exterior bark is brown-gray in thin exfoliating strips or thin fissured plates in youth, becoming criss-crossing and raised with age, while the cinnamon-orange interior bark reveals itself with age, for an overall ornamental bark characteristic.

Redbud grows well in full sun or partial shade. It prefers moist, rich, well-drained soil, but is somewhat adaptable to more marginal soils. It is widely available in ball and burlap as well as container form.

Texas Redbud, Cercis canadensis var. 'Texensis'

These redbud provides a striking pink to reddish purple floral display in April and early May (here, about 35 miles due west of the city of Chicago), before the foliage emerges. As an ornamental, the eastern redbud 'Pinkbud' can be used effectively with the white-flowering variety Cercis canadensis 'alba' for a striking floral contrast at the same time in early Spring, and also as the first (or second) of a series of flowering ornamental trees in combination with Serviceberry (Amelanchier), Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida), Carolina Silverbell Halesia carolina, Crabapple (Malus), Chinese Dogwood (Cornus kousa), and Japanese Tree Lilac (Syringa reticulata) for a floral sequence of ornamental trees with white, or lavender or red flowers in spring.

Winter-persistent redbud fruit

Two subspecies of redbud have been identified: Texas redbud (Cercis canadensis var. texensis, pictured here) found in southern Oklahoma, Trans-Pecos Texas, and southeastern New Mexico; and Eastern redbud (C. canadensis var. canadensis) found in the remainder of the range. Another native Cercis species, California redbud (C. occidentalis), is found in Utah, Nevada, California and Arizona.

Redbud is a regular but usually not a common understory component of many forest types throughout the Eastern United States. It is not a commercial timber species, and although it grows in many forest cover types, it is not listed in all of them by the Society of American Foresters. This forest-edge tree needs sunlight to produce its namesake blossoms, yet it will suffer in full summer heat. Redbuds grow best in part shade in well-drained soils high in organic matter. The shallow root system will benefit with a 3-4-inch layer of organic mulch. Redbuds vary in hardiness; buy from a local or regional source.

Purplish-pink buds occur along the branches in early May. Dark green, heart-shaped leaves turn a nice yellow fall color. The brownish-black bark on older trees often has an inner orange-red coloration. Distinct zigzag branching pattern on new growth. They make wonderful specimen plants especially with evergreen masses, thus providing contrast for the floral display and supplying the recommended protection from intense sunlight. [2]

Heart-shaped Redbud Leaves

Damaging Agents- Redbud is a host to a variety of insects, but damage is not normally severe. Bark and phloem borers include three species of Hypothenemus, and Pityophthorus lautus. A seed beetle, Gibbobruchus mimus, breeds in the seed of redbud. Numerous wood borers have been found in redbud. Agrilus otiosus, three species of Hypothenemus, three species of Micracis, two species of Microcisella, Pityophthorus lautus, Ptosima gibbicollis, and Thysanoes fimbricornis all inhabit portions of the wood of redbud.

Other insects feed on the leaves of redbud. The redbud leaffolder, Fascista cercerisella, feeds on leaves which the larvae web together. The grape leaffolder, Desmia funeralis, an important pest of grape, also feeds on redbud. The Japanese weevil, Callirhopalus bifasciatus, and Norape ovina both consume redbud leaves. Other insects feed on redbud by extracting juices from the plant. The twolined spittlebug, Prosapia bicincta, has been recorded feeding on redbud. The terrapin scale, Mesolecanium nigrofasciatum, and San Jose scale, Quadraspidiotus perniciosus, like most of the other redbud parasites, inhabit a variety of hosts including redbud. The periodical cicada, Magicicada septendecim, lays its eggs in more than 70 species of trees and other plants, including redbud.

There are three main diseases of redbud: leaf anthracnose, Mycosphaerella cercidicola, Botryosphaeria canker, and Verticillium wilt. The most serious is the canker Botryosphaeria ribis or its variety chromogena. The species is mainly a saprobe; the variety is a parasite. This variety produces stem and twig lesions and entire groves of redbuds have been killed by this disease. Verticillium wilt (Verticillium albo-atrum) sometimes kills redbuds, especially in the Midwestern United States. Redbud is vulnerable to Texas root rot (Phymatotrichum omnivorum), but redbud is not commonly grown in its range. A variety of sap and heart rots also infect eastern redbud.

The eastern redbud is extensively planted as an ornamental throughout the Eastern United States. It is tolerant of a wide range of site conditions, is not especially vulnerable to insects or diseases, is relatively easy to maintain, and makes a beautiful shrub or small tree, especially when flowering. Bark of redbud has been used as an astringent in the treatment of dysentery. Flowers of the tree can be put into salads or fried and eaten. There is some documented wildlife use of redbud fruit. Cardinals have been observed feeding on the seeds, and seeds have been consumed by ring-necked pheasants rose-breasted grosbeaks, and bobwhites. White-tailed deer and gray squirrels have also been observed feeding on the seeds. Flowers of the tree are regarded as important in the production of honey by bees. [2]